Just minutes from CDG, Paris Disneyland is the perfect one-day layover for hard-core Disney fans. If you’ve always wanted to visit an overseas Disney park, your flight through Charles-de-Gaulle can absolutely take you there. Here’s what I learned when I did Paris Disneyland in one day from CDG airport.

Paris Disneyland is only nine minutes from CDG

Closer to its home airport than either Disney World or Anaheim’s Disneyland, Paris Disneyland is only a nine-minute train ride from Charles-de-Gaulle.

Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport has its own vast train station, located below terminal 2. Trains depart constantly for the city of Paris, all over France, and beyond.

There are several rail options to get from CDG to Paris Disney, but the quickest is the TGV. On the route from the airport, Disneyland is the first stop, just nine minutes away.

English is widely spoken at Disneyland Paris

A quick word about a very commonly-asked question. Even if you speak no French, you will have no problem at the Paris Disney parks. All the cast members speak English, the signage is in French and English, and there are lots of English-speaking guests.

Signage at the train stations and Paris airport also include English, so you should be able to find your way around fairly easily.

Stay at an airport hotel

This plan works best if you literally stay at the CDG train station. By which I mean the airport.

If you have a layover at CDG, schedule your flights so you have a free day between them. You’ll need to spend two nights at the airport.

Why stay here instead of at Disneyland? It’s simpler, and you can get more sleep. Read on to see how this works.

I stayed at the Sheraton Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport Hotel. It’s located at the top of the stairs directly above the TGV train station. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar with good food, it’s remarkably quiet for being next to a runway, and you can watch the planes from your room.

Here’s an Orbitz link to the Sheraton at the CDG Airport.

TGV to Disneyland quick tips

Paris Disneyland is located in the town of Marne-la-Vallée, about 25 miles from Charles-de-Gaulle. When you look for train tickets, Marne-la-Vallée is your destination.

The TGV trains leave, and return to, CDG frequently during the day. Most of them are going much farther than Disneyland. My train was heading all the way to Marseille!

The train station at Disneyland Paris is truly just outside the park gates. You’ll have a quick walk to either the Disneyland or Studios park.

Since you’re only riding a few minutes, and getting off at the first stop, you don’t really even need to take your seat. There are jump seats right next to the doors at the end of each car. Just hang out here and hop right off at Marne-la-Vallée.

Buy your TGV tickets in advance

As you’ll see throughout this post, a day at Disneyland Paris requires plenty of advance planning. One of the first things you need to do is get your train tickets.

Charles-de-Gaulle’s TGV trains transport passengers from all over France. Which means a lot of competition for seats. If you’re looking for a specific departure, don’t wait to buy your tickets. I waited until about a month before my visit and had to alter my timeline because a couple of the trains were already sold out.

You can check departure times and prices here. Don’t forget to look at both directions of your trip!

Delays are possible

Be aware that circumstances beyond your control can delay the trains. Both my morning and evening train had 20 minute delays due to some unknown factor.

When you only have a few hours at a park, every minute counts. Don’t waste it standing on the platform at the airport. So when you choose the train to get from CDG, give yourself whatever buffer works for your comfort level.

Luckily, I booked a train about 30 minutes earlier than I thought I needed.

Worst-case scenario is an unanticipated rail strike. If your train just doesn’t come, it will ruin the whole day. You could potentially salvage this situation by grabbing an Uber or taxi at the airport, but it takes a lot longer to get there, especially during a rail strike. Cross your fingers and toes that this doesn’t happen.

By the way, this is exactly why my advice is to fly out of CDG the day after your Disneyland day, not the night of. You do not want to be stuck at the Disneyland train station when you’ve got a plane to catch.

Two nights at CDG, one day at Disneyland Paris

When you schedule this out, you’ll need to spend two nights at CDG. It looks like this:

• Fly into CDG – late in the day if you have the option
• Spend the night at CDG
• Train early to Disneyland Paris
• Spend the night at CDG
• Fly out of CDG – early in the day if you have the option

Staying at CDG keeps things simple and might save you money on your flights

When you split up your flights to include a stop in Paris, it can add some additional perks besides a day at Disneyland. You may actually find that your plane tickets cost less when you don’t just fly to CDG, connect, and fly out.

When you don’t have to directly connect the flights, you’re freed up to choose different flight times and maybe even a different airline for the second leg. This can often be cheaper than just connecting on the same airline on the same day.

Staying at the airport means you wake up there for your flight out. So there’s no worries about getting there on time, no additional travel time on the day of that flight, and a generally more chill airport experience.

Paris Charles-de-Gaulle is also just an incredibly confusing airport to navigate. If you don’t have to rush to connect to a flight it will be much less stressful.

A few cautions about doing one day at Disneyland Paris

Before I jump into the actual logistics of your day at Disneyland Paris, let’s talk about why you might NOT want to do this. Plus some advice about how to best explore Disneyland Paris as a quick stop on your European vacation.

Do it at the end of your trip

First of all, if you really just have a day for the parks, don’t do it the first day you fly into Europe.

Jet lag is the real deal, and the last thing you need is an intense 10+ hour day right when you get there.

If you wait until the end of your European vacation, not only will you have the chance to get a good night’s sleep, you will also be familiar with the currency and maybe even the language.

This will be very difficult to do during the Paris 2024 Olympics

If you’ll be visiting Paris during the 2024 Olympics, you should expect big crowds at Disneyland, every day of the week. So a one-day strategy could be extra difficult. Set your expectations accordingly and be sure to buy your train tickets as far in advance as possible.

Don’t try to do any Disney destination in one day if…

Just like every Disney parks resort, Disneyland Paris is not a place you can completely experience in one day. If you’re a hard-core, frequent theme park visitor like me, you can make a pretty good run at it. With some planning, as you’ll see below. But do consider these cautions:

It’s your first day on the continent

If you’re exhausted from a long flight, plus jet-lagged, but the beginning of your trip is when you can fit it in, make the effort to stay on-site at DLP. This way you’ll be able to return to your room when you really need a break, and hopefully you can allot more than one day to explore the parks.

You’re traveling with little kids

If you’ve got a little one with you, don’t even think about seeing both Disney Paris parks in a day. The sheer distance you’ll need to walk is hard enough for grown adults. Little ones need to go at a slower pace, and so do grown-ups who are traveling with little ones! Better to make a trip of it and stay on-site for two or three nights.

You haven’t been to a Disney park since pre-2020

If it’s been awhile since you’ve been to a Disney park, this may not be the time to try to do it in a day. Things have changed a lot since the old paper FastPass days.

If you’re determined to make it work, be sure to do your homework about the Disneyland Paris app, learn about Premier Access, and brush up on your ride etiquette.

You are exhausted from the rest of your vacation

If any of the above are true for you, consider spending several nights on-site at Paris Disneyland

Touring tactics for a single day Disneyland Paris visit

Make a plan

Advance planning is crucial for any one-day theme park visit. Disneyland Paris has two theme parks, including about 50 attractions, 25 restaurants, shows, character meets, shops, and plenty of other random diversions. It’s of course impossible to do all these things in one day.

If you’re really going to see anything, you’ll need to prioritize and plan your touring. I literally made a minute-by-minute spreadsheet, but you don’t have to go that far.

Start by researching what’s in the parks, then decide if you even want to visit both of them on your day. This will dictate what type of ticket you’ll need.

Once you know where you’ll be, start looking at the lands and attractions. Make a list of your top priorities and try to estimate a time for each thing. You’ll need to figure out if you can realistically do everything in the time you have.

Want to see a discussion about how my plan came together? Watch here.

Here’s a 60-second look at Paris Disneyland Resort

How to save time in line at Disneyland Paris

There are some tried-and-true theme park hacks that can help you beat the crowds at Disneyland Paris. Here are my top tips, which really helped me make the most of my day.

Rope Drop

Rope drop means being at the park gates when they open. Preferably at the front of the line.

If you’re first in the park, you can be first in line and maybe even walk on to your top priority attraction. The key to this tactic is to get to the park well before the gates open, usually at least 30 minutes early. So be sure to factor this in when you buy your train tickets.

I have tons of advice about doing rope drop right – and wrong – here on the website and in my email newsletter. Here are a few resources:

• Post/Podcast – How to rope drop
• Post/Podcast – Master your theme park morning
• Newsletter – Top two rope drop FAILS

Be aware of Disneyland Paris Extra Magic Time

Rope drop at Disneyland Paris is complicated by early entry for hotel guests. Hotel guests can get into the park an hour earlier than day visitors, which means there will be people already on the rides when you get to the gate from your train.

Even though you don’t get this magical extra hour, it still really pays to be first for the general entry. The first hours any park is open have the lowest crowd levels and the lowest ride wait times. So you can do more in less time.

Premier Access

Premier Access is Paris Disney’s paid skip-the-line system. It’s not cheap, but it can be a great way to get a ton of stuff done in just one day.

There are two Premier Access options: Ultimate and One. Premier Access Ultimate lets you skip the line once per ride on about 16 attractions. Premier Access One is a one-time skip-the-line for a specific ride.

If you’re familiar with Disney’s old FastPass system, this is the same thing except now you pay for it. Free FastPass is a thing of the past – you either buy the Premier Access or you go through the standby queue.

Ride single

A free way to avoid a long wait is to use the single rider queue. Major attractions like Ratatouille, Crush’s Coaster, and Hyperspace Mountain have single rider lines.

Riding single is just what it sounds like. You’ll be loaded onto an attraction without your group, to fill in an empty space in the ride vehicle.

Wait times for single rider can be significantly quicker than the regular standby queue. A 50 minute standby wait could be just 10 minutes riding single.

If a ride has a singles line, you’ll see the wait time displayed at the queue entry and also on the app.

Click here for more tips about riding single at Disney.

Make a lunch reservation

Paris Disney has some really cool themed restaurants, and if sitting down for an hour in the middle of the day sounds good to you (it sure will when you’re there!), you should choose a restaurant and make a reservation.

You can book your Disneyland Paris dining reservation up to two months ahead. If your top choice isn’t available right away, keep trying. Reservations seem to appear randomly and odds are you’ll be able to snag a time that works for you.

My day at Paris Disney

All these tips come from my real-life experience visiting Paris Disneyland in September 2023. Here is what my day looked like.

Have a plan but be flexible

You don’t have to make a plan as detailed as this one, but it really did help me stay on track. As you can see, I actually accomplished almost everything on my list. The biggest thing that I skipped was the railroad. The waits were long and not all the stations were open.

I spent a lot of time finessing this plan. And I asked for help. If you’d like to see the process, check out this video.

Staying flexible when you’ve got a plan like this is not easy. I really wanted to do everything on the list in the order I’d planned. But mostly because of wait times I switched a few things around.

When you go for just one day, you have to be in the mindset that you won’t be able to do everything. Be realistic about how long it’s going to take to get places, and be sure to prioritize your top experiences.

For me, lunch at Walt’s Restaurant was an absolute must-do. I knew that it’s a multi-course meal and it’s in France, so I planned for 90 minutes there. This is a big chunk of the day but I really didn’t want to rush it, and the timing turned out to be perfect.

Single rider & Premier Access

What really made it possible for me to get on so many rides was riding single and using Premier Access One. When the waits were just too long, I paid the fee and skipped the line. There were only two rides I had to do this on: Crush’s Coaster and Big Thunder.

Weekdays are less crowded

Besides the fact that I was solo, and thus nimble, I went to Paris Disneyland on a Monday in September. Crowds were relatively low, which made it easier to get around and kept ride wait times down. If I’d been visiting in the summer or on a weekend, I would’ve expected to get on fewer rides.

Bring an external battery

At Disneyland Paris your phone is absolutely essential. It is your park ticket, your train ticket, and the only way to get Premier passes for the attractions. If the battery goes dead, you don’t have a train ticket to get home.

The Disneyland app uses a ton of power, and I found my battery drained 50% by lunchtime. Luckily I had a back-up power bank with me.

Even if your phone is brand-new, be prepared to top up the battery during the day. Your best bet is a small power pack like this. If you bring a charger instead, make sure it can plug into a European power outlet.

Click here to find this power pack at Target

Click here to find it at Amazon

My Disneyland Paris in one day video trip report

Here’s the live discussion on Facebook where I explain exactly how my day at Disneyland Paris turned out. It was an incredible day and I hope you have as much fun as I did.

I’m sure there are tips in the video that I’ve left out of this post. Click here to watch, or just click below.

Have you conquered Disneyland Paris in a day?

Have you experienced a day at Disneyland Paris? What went right? What went wrong? Share you thoughts in the comments below.

More theme park tips from Go Informed

Here on the site you’ll find tons of advice to help make your next theme park vacation the best ever. Here’s a few of the top posts:

• Universal Orlando vs Universal Hollywood
• How one-star TripAdvisor reviews can make your vacation better
• How to rope drop like a pro
• Theme park etiquette tips

Do Disney like a pro!

Subscribe to my theme park tips newsletter and get simple, actionable advice delivered straight to your inbox. Join the list and check out the archives here.

Here are a few popular past newsletter editions:

• Should you pay to skip the line?
• 6 tips to make your next flight easier
• 10 park touring mistakes I’ve made

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Your theme park vacation may be the most intensive walking experience of your year. Now’s the time to get a handle on just how far you’ll go and learn how to be ready. Here are some common Disneyland walking distances, along with tips to help you get in shape for your trip, plus a fun Disneyland-themed bingo card to track your training.

Want to find out about walking distances at Disney World and Universal Orlando? Check out this post.

Audio tutorial

Go Informed Podcast episode 77 is a discussion of how to train for your Disney vacation. Find it on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

Get ready to walk

A day at Disneyland can easily add up to a half-marathon of walking. Get familiar with the distances so you’ll be ready to go.

Keep in mind that the distances you see here are just one-way. Running around inside the parks can add up quickly, so be sure to have a plan to avoid a bunch of backtracking.

One of my favorite resources for planning a trip to Disneyland is the Unofficial Guide. Find it on Amazon here.

Walking distances inside Disneyland

While Disneyland is far from the largest of Disney’s parks, there is still a lot of ground to cover. Here are some common Disneyland walking distances:

• Disneyland main gate walking distance to:
  • Sleeping Beauty castle: 0.25 miles
  • Space Mountain: 0.3 miles
  • Splash Mountain: 0.4 miles
  • Millennium Falcon: 0.5 miles
  • It’s a Small World: 0.4 miles
  • California Adventure main gate: 250 feet
• Loop around Disneyland: 1.5 miles
• Disneyland monorail stop in Tomorrowland to Haunted Mansion: 0.3 miles

Want quick answers to your top Disney parks FAQ’s? Check out my theme park quick start guides here.

Walking distances inside Disney’s California Adventure

California Adventure is a compact park, with even the farthest attractions only around a half-mile from the gate. However, California Adventure doesn’t have the hub-and-spoke layout you’ll find at Disneyland. This means more meandering pathways and not always direct routes across the grounds.

Here are some common California Adventure walking distances:

• California Adventure main gate walking distance to:
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout: 0.2 miles
  • Web-Slingers: 0.2 miles
  • Radiator Springs Racers: 0.3 miles
  • Incredicoaster: 0.4 miles
  • Soarin’ Around the World: 0.1 miles
  • Grizzly River Run: 0.2 miles
• Loop around California Adventure: 1.2 miles
• Grand Californian Hotel to Radiator Springs Racers, via the hotel’s direct entrance to California Adventure: 0.3 miles

Getting ready to walk is on my list of 8 things to do before your trip. Click here to find out what else to do before you go.

Walking between Disneyland and California Adventure

Because of the proximity of the two parks, most guests opt to park-hop, which means going back-and-forth between Disneyland and California Adventure. This can add significant distance to your total for the day. For instance, you’ll walk a full mile between Midway Mania in California Adventure to Rise of the Resistance in Disneyland.

Heads-up: At Disneyland you need an advance reservation to get into the park. Get my 8 quick Disney park reservation tips here.

Walking distances from Disneyland area hotels to the park gates

In addition, there are many hotels, both Disney and non-Disney, within walking distance of the park gates. Consider this distance when you choose your hotel. Here are a few landmarks to help you judge where to stay.

The Disneyland Esplanade is the plaza between the park gates for Disneyland and California Adventure. It’s about the width of a city block.

• Disneyland Esplanade walking distance to:
  • Disneyland Hotel: 0.5 miles
  • Grand Californian Hotel: 0.1 miles
  • Paradise Pier Hotel: 0.6 miles
  • Best Western Plus Park Place: 0.3 miles
  • Hyatt House: 0.6 miles
  • Anaheim Marriott: 1 mile
  • Best Western Plus Pavilions: 1 mile
  • Residence Inn Anaheim Resort Area: 1.6 miles

Get your feet ready to walk at Disneyland

One of the best ways to set yourself up for success on a Disneyland vacation is to train for your trip. Add walking into your routine weeks, or even months, before your trip. The more miles you do at home, the more miles you can do in the parks.

Start with your shoes

Make sure you have good walking shoes, and put some mileage on them before your vacation. The best shoes for Disneyland are the type that you could run a marathon in.

Two pairs of running shoes are even better than one. If you’ve got a second pair, you can rotate between them each day. And if you run into wet weather, you can change into dry shoes with no hassle.

You should also bring along some blister bandages just in case.

Think it never rains in Disneyland? Here’s the post I wrote after we experienced extreme weather there.

Track your progress

One of my favorite ways to track distance is in terms of the parks. Instead of counting miles on your neighborhood walks, imagine how many times you’ve walked to the castle.

Disneyland neighborhood walk Bingo card

I’ve created a Bingo card you can print to track your training. Use your phone or a fitness watch to see how far you walked today, then mark off those distances on the Bingo card.

There are about 13 miles total, which is easily how far you could walk in just two days at Disneyland. See if you can do this distance within a week at home.

Get your whole family walking

Make sure the rest of your group can go the distance too. If you’ve got kids in strollers, include them on your training walks. They’ll need to be ready for all that extra time in the seat.

Be realistic

It’s also important to recognize any limitations in your group. If you just know all this walking is going to be a difficulty, start working on a mobility plan B. It’s easy to rent a wheelchair or scooter right at the Disneyland main gate. Prepare for it ahead of time so everything goes smoothly.

Don’t miss my TOP TEN Disneyland tips right here!

Get theme park tips while you walk

Listening to a podcast is a great way to pass those training miles. Check out the Go Informed Podcast on your favorite podcast player. You get tips like:

• Super-quick guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane
• My Christmastime at Disneyland trip report
• Everything you need to know about Avengers Campus
• How to get your family to the park in time for rope drop
• How Universal Studios Hollywood compares to Universal Orlando

and lots more! Search your podcast app for Go Informed: Build A Better Vacation now.

Recent Go Informed Podcast episodes

Printable park maps and Disneyland walking distance bingo card

Here are the links to get PDF versions of the park maps and bingo card:

• Disneyland park maps with walking distances
• Disneyland-themed neighborhood walk bingo card

Want an Orlando parks bingo card too? Head over to this post for a Disney World/Universal Orlando themed bingo card.

Bonus tips delivered straight to your inbox

Be sure to join the Go Informed newsletter list to get twice-monthly bonus tips delivered straight to you. Sign up here.

Is Paris Disneyland on your bucket list? Click here to find out how you can do it in just ONE day!

60-second guide to Paris Disneyland

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Disneyland Walking Distances appeared first on Go Informed.

Way more than a zoo, Disney World offers an abundance of adventures for animal lovers. The resort boasts an entire theme park designed around the wonder of animals, an aquarium full of aquatic friends, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a safari lodge complete with grazing zebras and giraffes. Here are some of the many places to find animals at Disney World.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 74. Click below to listen to the episode and get the complete details.

Watch this chat on Facebook video

This post and podcast episode were originally produced as a Facebook live chat. You can watch the original video here.

Enchanting animal encounters at Disney World

Animal Kingdom theme park

Celebrating creatures of all stripes, Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is a must-see for every animal lover. The largest theme park in the world, Animal Kingdom houses about 300 different animal species in a lush natural setting.

Kilimanjaro Safari

A huge highlight in Animal Kingdom is the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. Open-air vehicles carry guests though the African savanna for close-up views of everything from lions to rhinos to bighorn Ankole cattle. Using the best of Disney magic, even the cheetahs appear to have no boundary between them and the guests.

The safari is a real treasure for photographers. For the best shots, sit on the side or in the back row. Often the animals come right up to the safari trucks and sometimes stop in the road, bringing the whole tour to a halt.

Because the animals are free to go about their business, every safari ride is different. Make time to try a few different times of day. Early and late are especially interesting on the savanna.

Watching the animals can be a great way to slow down and relax during your busy day. Here’s a list of 7 more ways to find some Zen on a theme park vacation.

Animal Kingdom walking trails

With so much space, Animal Kingdom offers miles of walking trails to explore. The trails are highly themed and feature all sorts of animals. For tiger fans, be sure to venture through the Maharajah Jungle Trek. To see gorillas, hippos, and a very cool aviary, take the Gorilla Falls trail near the safari.

The area around Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life also offers the chance to discover animals. Check out the Oasis and Discovery Island trails to see exotic birds, lemurs, and wallabys. You may also run into a famous Disney character here, like Mogli, or Kevin from Up.

You may have guessed, there is a lot of walking at Animal Kingdom. Here are my tips for how to get ready to walk at Disney, along with some common distances you’ll want to prepare for.

Conservation Station

For a behind-the-scenes look at animal care, hop on the Wildlife Express steam train to the Conservation Station. On this end of the park you’ll see cotton-top tamarins – basically the cutest monkeys on the planet – as well as an indoor education center.

The Conservation Station features windows into a veterinary lab, science center, and a kitchen where food is prepared for the animals. Animal caretakers are often available to interact with guests and answer questions. This is a must-see for any aspiring veterinarians in your group.

Tours at Animal Kingdom park

If you really want to get up-close, consider booking a special tour at Animal Kingdom. Disney offers several options daily. Here are the current tours at Animal Kingdom park:

• Caring for Giants – an up-close look at the elephants on the savanna
• Savor the Savanna – you’ll have a picnic amongst the animals!
• Up Close with Rhinos – behind-the-scenes tour of the rhino enclosure
• Wild Africa Trek – a privately-guided walking tour through the savanna

Get more info about the tours on Disney’s website here.

There are more than just animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Listen to my virtual audio tour of the park right here.

Epcot’s Seas Pavilion

Animal Kingdom isn’t the only Disney World park where you’ll find wild animals. Epcot is home to one of the largest aquarium tanks in the world. It’s part of the Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction and is a must-see for anyone who loves fishy friends.

Epcot’s aquarium

Epcot’s main aquarium tank is home to over 2,000 sea creatures, ranging from tropical fish to rays and sharks. Cast members are almost always on-hand to answer questions about what’s swimming by. Be sure to look for a hidden mickey on the bottom of the tank.

You may also see snorkelers or scuba divers in Epcot’s aquarium. This is because guests can take guided tours inside the tank. Learn more in this post I wrote for my friends at Disney Park Princess.

Dolphins

Dolphins also live at the Seas pavilion and frequently during the day you’ll see them swim into view. Watch for training sessions where the dolphins’ human assistants demonstrate the incredible brain power of these sleek swimmers. You’ll see it in the main tank area.

Manatees

Epcot is home to a couple of rescued manatees named Lou and Lil’ Joe. These quiet giants love to paddle around their tank, which you can view from above and below. The manatees are tucked away in a corner of the building, so be sure to seek them out.

Coral Reef restaurant

Stop for lunch at Epcot’s Coral Reef restaurant, which has windows that look straight into the main aquarium tank.

Animals at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Main Street horses

Even at Magic Kingdom guests can encounter live animals. Watch for horses pulling old-fashioned trolleys down Main Street USA. You can hop on for a ride and enjoy a throwback form of transportation found these days pretty much only at Disney.

Fantasy animals

Magic Kingdom is of course home to a menagerie of fantastical animals. Not only will you encounter a very famous mouse, but almost every attraction includes an animal element.

Some of the best places to see Disney animatronic animals include the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

You could even make your own scavenger hunt by trying to find all the animals in Magic Kingdom.

Animal experiences at the Disney World resorts

Besides the parks, Disney World’s hotels offer some delightful animal encounters. For animal lovers, it’s hard to beat a stay at Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, or especially Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Want to learn more about the Disney World hotels? Be sure to read my Disney World hotel guide here.

You don’t have to be staying at these resorts to visit the animals, so these are great activities for non-park days.

Animals at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge

Tri-Circle-D ranch

The Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge resort area has a working horse stable, called the Tri-Circle-D ranch. This is where Magic Kingdom’s Main Street horses live. Guests can walk through the stables to view the many horse breeds, including Clydesdales, Belgians, Appaloosas, and Shetland ponies.

From the ranch, guests can take guided horseback and pony rides.

Wagon, carriage, and sleigh rides

Take a quiet horse-drawn carriage ride through the Fort Wilderness landscape, or go with a bigger group on a horse-drawn wagon. During the holidays, your carriage becomes a festive “sleigh” ride.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge savanna rooms

Animal lovers of all ages will delight in the savanna view rooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Built in homage to the great African safari lodges, Animal Kingdom Lodge features a soaring lobby with open fire and a backyard filled with African wildlife.

All of the savanna view rooms look out onto the open prairie where zebras, giraffes, kudu, and exotic birds roam. It’s hard to beat waking up right on the savanna, especially for an animal lover.

Dine with the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Guests at Animal Kingdom Lodge can also book a special safari dinner that takes place on the savanna. Or just make a reservation at the excellent Sanaa restaurant and watch the animals while you eat.

Horse-drawn carriage rides at Port Orleans resort

At Disney World’s Port Orleans Riverside resort, guests can take a relaxing horse-drawn carriage ride along the shore of the Sassagoula River.

Get ready for your Disney vacation

Here on GoInformed.net and on my Go Informed podcast, you’ll find tons of tips to help you have a fantastic Disney vacation. Start with these recommend posts:

• 55 things to know before you visit Disney World
• Disney World walking distances
• How to add Universal to your Disney World vacation
• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando

Join the mailing list

Join the mailing list to get my twice-monthly bonus tipsheet delivered straight to your inbox. Here’s where to sign up.

Live Disney chats

This post and podcast episode were originally produced as a live discussion on Facebook. You can join me, along with my friend Joey – the Disney Hack – most Tuesdays at 11:00am Pacific time on my Facebook page. Scroll up to the top of the page to watch the video.

You can catch all our archived discussions here.

The post Where to find animals at Disney World appeared first on Go Informed.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 73. Click below to hear the show now, or search for Go Informed: Build A Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app!

Comparing Universal Orlando to Universal Studios Hollywood

There are many factors to consider when comparing the Orlando and Hollywood Universal theme parks. Here we’ll look at how location, size, diversity of attractions, accommodations, and pricing stack up between the two destinations.

There are a lot of details here, so check out this table of contents if you want to skip to your top considerations.

A super-quick comparison of Universal Orlando vs Hollywood

Here’s a 60-ish-second guide to how Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood stack up against each other

Location and size of Universal Orlando compared to Universal Hollywood

Let’s first start with the most obvious difference between Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood: location. Location affects more than just how far you’ll travel to get to the park. It also includes the weather, the total size of the resort, and what else there is to do nearby.

Location

Universal Orlando is located about 20 miles west of Orlando’s airport (MCO). Universal Studios Hollywood is about 25 miles from LAX, but only 7 miles from Burbank airport (BUR).

Both Orlando and LA have plenty of other things to do and see besides the Universal theme parks. And visitors to these cities might consider Universal just a small part of a bigger vacation. However, Universal Orlando especially could be an entire destination on its own, as you’ll see below.

Weather

One of the big differences between Orlando and Southern California is the weather. Where LA spends most of the year moderately warm and dry, Central Florida weather is often exceedingly hot and humid.

Always take a look at the projected weather for your travel dates and prepare accordingly. You should have much less impact in the SoCal climate than in Orlando. If Florida is your destination, be sure to read my top weather tips and pack the right gear.

Proximity to a Disney park

Combining Disney with Universal is a natural fit for a theme park vacation. If you want to do both, know that it’s a LOT easier in Orlando.

Universal Orlando is not far from Disney World

Universal Orlando is only about 10 miles from Disney World. This is almost always less than a 30 minute drive, which makes it easy to add Disney World to your Universal Orlando vacation.

It’s a long car ride from Universal Studios Hollywood to Disneyland

In California, the Disney and Universal parks are not close to each other. Distance is about 35 miles, which in LA traffic will easily add up to much more than an hour drive. Park opening time, and often Universal Hollywood’s park closing time, will put you directly in LA rush hour traffic.

If you plan to combine Disneyland and Universal Studios on your LA visit, seriously consider splitting your stay. Spend the night close to whichever park you want to visit in the morning.

Quick look at Avengers Campus

If you’re heading to Disneyland you will definitely want to spend some time at Avengers Campus. Here’s a quick look.

Size

When it comes to size, Universal Orlando Resort dwarfs Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal Orlando has two theme parks, a water park, eight Universal-owned hotels, and a large shopping and entertainment district. Universal has also begun construction on an enormous third theme park in Orlando, adjacent to the current resort.

Universal Studios Hollywood has one theme park, a working film studio, no Universal-owned hotels, and a large shopping and entertainment district.

Universal Orlando’s attractions vs Universal Studios Hollywood

Even though Universal Orlando is much bigger than Universal Hollywood, both have lots of world-class attractions. And each coast has unique offerings not found anywhere else.

Universal Orlando has two theme parks, plus a water park

The Universal Orlando parks are located right next to each other and are easy to hop between. A quick shuttle away is the extraordinary Volcano Bay water park.

In 2025, an entirely new third park will open at Universal Orlando. Dubbed Epic Universe, this addition will feature five new immersive lands and three new hotels. All indications is that it will be an incredible destination. Here’s a quick overview of what’s coming to Epic Universe at Universal Orlando.

Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure features themed lands ranging from Suess Landing to Jurassic Park to the Wizarding World’s Hogsmeade Village. If you like roller coasters, this is your park. Three major coasters – the Hulk, Velocicoaster, and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure – are all at Islands of Adventure.

Here’s my audio tour of Islands of Adventure.

Universal Studios Florida

Like its Hollywood counterpart, Universal Studios Florida is themed after movies and TV. However there is no working studio here so therefore no studio tour. Notable attractions include the Mummy roller coaster, Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon, Transformers, and the Wizarding World’s Diagon Alley.

Listen to my Universal Studios Florida audio tour here.

Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay is a highly-themed water park which Universal bills as their third Orlando theme park. A giant volcano houses three water slides and a water roller coaster, plus there are numerous raft rides, a lazy river, and a sandy beach for relaxing.

Here’s a 60-second look at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando is so big that there are a bunch of cool things you could easily overlook. Check out this issue of the Go Informed newsletter to find out about 9 of my favorite Universal Orlando hidden gems. And don’t forget to subscribe!

Universal Studios Hollywood is a single theme park

Universal Studios in Hollywood is one park that combines some of the best of the Orlando resort with a few unique attractions. It was the first of the Universal theme parks and was originally founded purely as a tour of the Universal movie and TV studios.

Attractions you’ll find at Universal Studios Hollywood but not at Universal Orlando

The Universal Studio Tour

Of all the world’s theme parks, Universal Studios Hollywood is the only one with a working film studio tour. You’ll ride a tram behind-the-scenes through famous movie and TV sets, learning about how and where many iconic scenes were staged. The backlot tour runs continuously throughout the day and takes about an hour.

Along with the informative tour, the trams take a few wild turns that Orlando’s Studio park has made into stand-alone attractions. Both the Fast and Furious and Kong attractions are woven right into the tram tour. These experiences exist in Orlando, but as their own rides.

The tour is a must-see for most visitors to the Hollywood park. It’s a great way to get off your feet for an hour and you never know if you’ll see an actual movie star.

Super Nintendo World

The world of Mario and his pals has come to life at Universal Studios Hollywood. This new land includes the super-headliner Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge attraction, dining, shopping, and character interactions.

The land itself is also an immersive interactive game. Get yourself a power-up band to complete challenges and capture coins.

Super Nintendo World is anticipated to be a big hit, which means you should expect higher-than-usual crowds at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023. Be sure to use my rope drop tips, know how to ride single, and consider Universal Express if you’ll be visiting in 2023.

Jurassic World – the Ride

Jurassic World is like a super-charged version of Splash Mountain. Guests ride boats through a jungle full of huge dinosaurs, culminating in a spectacular roller-coaster-style drop. Bring a poncho: you WILL get wet.

Orlando’s Islands of Adventure also has a Jurassic park water ride, but California’s is way more intense and at least as wet.

More rides you’ll find in California but not in Florida

Other attractions you can currently experience at Universal Studios Hollywood but not at Universal Orlando are Secret Life of Pets and the WaterWorld stunt show. Universal Studios Hollywood also has different walk-around characters than in Orlando.

Comparing the Wizarding World in Orlando vs Hollywood

One of the biggest differences between Universal Hollywood and Universal Orlando is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you want to visit Diagon Alley you can only see it in Orlando. Both locations have Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Castle.

Did you know you can pre-purchase a photo package for Universal Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood? Probably not, because Universal doesn’t make this easy to find. Never fear, here’s a quick look at how it works, where to get current prices, and how to buy the Universal Orlando photo package and the Universal Studios Hollywood photo package.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood

Hogsmeade Village at Universal Studios Hollywood is almost exactly the same as at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, often with lighter crowds.

Here’s what’s in the Wizarding World at Universal Hollywood:

• Hogsmeade Village
• Hogwarts Castle – including the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride
• Flight of the Hippogriff family coaster
• The Three Broomsticks and Hogs Head pub
• Shopping at Ollivander’s, Honeydukes, Zonkos, and more

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World is split between both the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios parks. Hogsmeade Village is in Islands of Adventure, while Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. The Hogsmeade Express runs between the parks.

Because of the layout, you’ll need a two-park ticket to see the entire Orlando Wizarding World. Be sure to read my post about Universal Orlando ticket options before you buy your park admission.

Here’s what’s in the Wizarding World at Universal Orlando:

• Hogsmeade Village – Islands of Adventure
  • Hogwarts Castle – including the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride
  • Flight of the Hippogriff family coaster
  • Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure roller coaster
  • The Three Broomsticks and Hogs Head pub
  • Shopping at Ollivander’s, Honeydukes, and more
  • Hogsmeade station – the Hogwarts Express runs between the parks
• Diagon Alley – Universal Studios
  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
  • Knockturn Alley
  • The Knight Bus
  • 12 Grimmauld Place
  • The Leaky Cauldron
  • Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour
  • Shopping at Madam Malkins’, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Borgin and Burkes, and more
  • King’s Cross station – the Hogwarts Express runs between the parks

Note that in 2025, a third addition to Orlando’s Wizarding World opens at the Epic Universe park. Learn more here.

Here’s a quick look at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World

Listen to my audio tour of Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter here

Staying on-site at Universal Orlando compared to Universal Studios Hollywood

If you want to stay close to the park gates, Universal Orlando offers way more options compared to Universal Hollywood.

Universal Orlando hotels

The Orlando resort has eight Universal-owned hotels all offering guest perks such as easy transportation and early park admission. Several of these hotels are within a quick walk to the park gates and even offer free Express Pass to guests.

Here is my complete guide to the Universal Orlando hotels.

Universal Studios Hollywood hotels

Universal Studios Hollywood has several hotels within about a mile of the gate, but none are operated by Universal and there are rarely special guest perks like early admission. Closest to the main gate is the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.

Remember LA’s notorious traffic when you decide where to stay for your visit to Universal Studios. As mentioned above, Disneyland is a very long drive from Hollywood. Consider choosing a nearby hotel for the time you’ll be visiting Universal.

Can you do it in one day?

A lot of visitors are adding Universal to a larger vacation. How much of it you can see in one day is much different in Orlando than in California.

Universal Orlando is really a multi-day destination

Universal Orlando in one day

Yes, you can see a lot of Universal Orlando in one day. If this is your aim, you’ll need a solid plan of the top things you want to do, and you’ll need to be there from park opening to closing. Express Pass can also be your best friend if you only want to spend one day at Universal Orlando.

Here are a few resources to help you navigate Universal Orlando in a day:

• Single rider tips
• How to rope drop
• All about Universal Orlando Express Pass
• How to add Universal Orlando to your Disney World vacation
• The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando

Two or three days is best at Universal Orlando

Because Universal Orlando is so big (see above), most guests have a much better experience by spending at least a night on-site and touring for two or three days. When you’ve got several days to see everything, it allows for a slower pace and the chance to loop back for a second ride.

Universal also often offers discounts on multi-day tickets, such as buy 2 days get 2 free, which can make adding a day or two to your trip a lot more affordable. Be sure to check out these resources when you start planning your multi-day trip to Universal Orlando:

• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando
• How to choose your Universal Orlando park tickets
• Universal Orlando hotel guide
• Universal Orlando first-timer tips
• The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando

You can do Universal Studios Hollywood in a day

Even with the hour-long studio tour, you can see most of Universal Studios Hollywood in just one day – if you visit on a relatively low-crowd day. Two days is more than enough time to see everything and even go back to some favorites.

Busiest days will be weekends and school holidays, so if you’ll be visiting then you’ll want to consider a second day, or utilize tactics like rope drop, single rider, and Express Pass.

Single rider is a good way to skip the regular lines, and several of the headliner attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood have this option. This includes Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the Mummy, and Jurassic World.

Get a jump-start on your vacation research with my 60-second theme park quick start guides. Find them all here.

Comparing costs and ticket options between the Orlando and Hollywood Universal parks

Cost is of course a major factor in determining whether to include a Universal park in your vacation. Comparing Universal Orlando vs. Universal Hollywood ticket costs involves a few factors.

Multi-day tickets

How many days you want to visit will determine a lot of the cost difference between Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood. While you may be satisfied just spending one day at Universal Studios Hollywood, a multi-day ticket often makes more sense for Universal Orlando.

If you’ll be staying on-site at Universal Orlando, I highly recommend considering an annual pass, even if you’re from out-of-state and don’t have a return visit planned. This is because Univeral Orlando’s annual passholder hotel savings often add up to much more than the added cost for the pass. Here’s a quick example of how it works.

Check for special ticket deals

Obviously, more days means more cost. But if you want to compare apples to apples, be sure to check the current ticket prices for Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood before you make an assumption. Universal Orlando almost always has discounts on multi-day tickets.

Here is my complete guide to Universal Orlando park tickets

Spending more than one day at Universal Hollywood? Consider an annual pass

At Universal Studios Hollywood you won’t find a multi-day ticket option. Only single-day or annual passes. So if you plan to visit for two days, you’ll have to buy two one-day tickets. Or you might find it’s actually cheaper at Universal Hollywood to buy an annual pass! That’s because annual passes here are priced at around the cost of two one-day tickets.

Book in a hotel package and save on your total trip

If you’re planning to stay in one of Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels, or in one of the Universal Hollywood partner hotels, consider booking your room and park tickets together in a package. You can book a package through the Universal website or through a travel agent.

Universal’s hotel packages always offer whatever special ticket deal is available, so you won’t miss out on this by bundling everything together. There is often an additional discount built into the package price.

Another advantage to booking in a package is that you don’t have to pay for it all up front. You’ll just pay a deposit at booking, then the remainder 45 days prior to your trip. Compare this to purchasing your park tickets up front to lock in a deal, and a package may make more sense for you.

Comparing Universal Express Pass in Orlando vs Hollywood

Express Pass is Universal’s system that allows guests to skip the regular line. It’s an add-on that is like a VIP pass for most of the attractions both at Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood. If you hate standing in line or just want to move through the park extra-efficiently, consider adding Express Pass to your park admission.

There are a few nuances to Express Pass which I cover in this post and podcast episode. The Express line works the same in both Orlando and Hollywood, with the main difference being how you acquire an Express Pass.

In Orlando, Universal Express is a separate ticket – and you can get it for free

At Universal Orlando, Express Pass is an add-on to your park admission. You’ll choose this option when selecting your tickets, along with how many days and parks to include.

Here’s my guide to how Universal Orlando park tickets are structured.

One crucial difference between Express Pass at Universal Orlando vs. Universal Hollywood is the opportunity for free Unlimited Express Pass. On-site guests at Orlando’s Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, and Portofino Bay hotels automatically receive Unlimited Express Pass as part of their stay. There is no need to purchase this, your room key is your pass.

The free Express Pass perk in Orlando offers a huge touring advantage for these hotel guests, and should really be considered – especially if your trip is in the summer or another busy season.

Here’s more insight about the free Express Pass benefit at Universal Orlando’s hotels.

In Hollywood, Universal Express is its own one-day ticket

For Universal Studios Hollywood, the one-day park ticket with Express is called a “Universal Express” ticket. This admission includes once-per-attraction access to the Express line for the day. If you want Unlimited Express, which gives unlimited access to the Express line, you can choose to upgrade your park ticket after you add the Universal Express ticket to your cart.

Unlike Orlando, there are no free Express Passes offered for hotel guests. If you’re not sure if you want Express Pass, there is also the opportunity to upgrade once you get into the park. But beware that the cost will likely be higher than purchasing in advance online, and Express Pass can sell out.

More tips for your Universal theme park vacation

Here on GoInformed.net there are lots more tips to help you have a great vacation. Check out these other posts:

• 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando
• How to get your family up early for a day at the parks
• Getting ready to walk at the parks
• Universal Orlando hotel guide
• How to add Universal Orlando to your Disney World vacation

Are you a Marvel fan? Learn all about Disneyland’s Avengers Campus here.

The Go Informed Podcast

Get your theme park advice on the go! Listen and learn more on the Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation podcast. Catch my episode about Universal Orlando vs. Universal Hollywood on your favorite podcast app, including:

• Apple podcasts
• Google podcasts
• Spotify

Bonus content direct to your inbox

Want to save money, avoid hassles, and have more fun on your theme park vacation? Sign up now to get two bonus mini-posts every month, exclusive to the Go Informed mailing list!

Click here to join the list.

Add this to your bucket list: Disneyland Paris

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Universal Orlando vs. Universal Hollywood appeared first on Go Informed.

Meet Ric, a Disney World superfan who visits multiple times a year and even has his own Disney fan podcast. But he’s never been to Universal Orlando. On this episode of the Go Informed Podcast, we dive into all the Universal Orlando first-timer advice Ric should know for his long-overdue adventure.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episodes 69 and 70. Click below to hear the show now, or search for Go Informed: Build A Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app!

Go Informed Podcast episode 69

Episode 69 is my discussion with Ric before his first trip to Universal Orlando. You’ll hear lots of frequent first-timer questions answered here.

Go Informed Podcast episode 70

Episode 70 is Ric’s post-vacation trip report. Catch his stories and advice from his trip here.

Universal Orlando first-timer Ric’s trip plans

Ric’s heading to Universal for a 5 day stay in early August 2021. He’s visiting with his wife, daughters age 19 and 11, and son age 9.

As a huge Harry Potter fan, this visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is going to be the trip of a lifetime. With 5-day park tickets, Ric’s family should have tons of time to explore all of the Wizarding World along with everything else at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

Staying on-site at Royal Pacific Resort

Ric’s family will be staying on-site at Universal Orlando’s Royal Pacific Resort. Royal Pacific guests receive free unlimited Universal Express Pass, plus an hour early park admission every morning. By choosing an on-site Express Pass hotel, theme park touring will be way more relaxed for the entire group.

Besides the Express Pass and early admission perks, Royal Pacific is one of the closest hotels to the Universal theme parks. Ric’s family can easily walk to the park gates in about 15 minutes, or take a free water taxi or paid pedicab.

How far apart is everything at Universal Orlando? Here are some common walking distances with maps.

My advice is to use that early park admission as many days as Ric’s family can manage it. Early admission is the perfect time to experience the Wizarding World before summer crowds roll in. It’s also the best time to encounter Olivander in his wand shop, and to ride the Hagrid’s Magicial Creatures Motorbike Adventure coaster, since these are among the few attractions with no Express Pass entry.

Early admission at Universal Orlando is different than at Disney World

For Disney World fans, Universal’s early admission is a bit different. Universal opens an hour early for on-site hotel guests, some annual passholders, and selected outside visitors. Even though one or both of the theme parks are open early, only a limited part of the parks will actually be operating during this hour. In general, this is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions along with one or two other rides.

Be sure to consult Universal Orlando’s early park admission calendar to find out what attractions will be open early during your visit. If you notice both the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios parks opening early, that’s an indication that Universal’s expecting a busy day – even more reason to take advantage of your head-start.

Click here for a great hack you can use if you’ve got early admission at Universal Orlando, from my Go Informed newsletter.

Universal Express Pass advice for Disney fans

Ric and I discussed Express Pass compared to Disney’s FastPass system. Here are a few things to keep in mind about Express Pass:

• Like Disney’s FastPass, Express Pass allows guests to skip the regular line and board an attraction within minutes.
• Unlike Disney’s FastPass, Express Pass is not necessarily free. Universal sells Express as an add-on to park admission. However guests staying at certain on-site hotels receive Unlimited Express Passes for free during their stay.
• Guests can use Express Pass throughout the day whenever it’s convenient. There are no assigned times to use an Express Pass.
• Almost every attraction at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida has an Express Pass entrance. Notable exceptions are the Velocicoaster and the Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure coaster.
• Unlimited Express Pass, which hotel guests like Ric get for free, means you can ride any attraction through the Express Pass entrance as many times as you wish.
• The Volcano Bay water park also has Express Pass, which is purchased separately for that park.

Hey guys, since I first wrote this post Disney has re-vamped their skip-the-line system. Click here for a quick overview of how it works now.

Wizarding World advice for a first-timer

One of my top tips for Ric is to take it slow and really enjoy the immersive environment of the Wizarding World. Since he has five days in the parks, and Universal Express Pass, there is time to see and do pretty much everything.

A visit to Olivander’s Wand Shop will be top of the list on the family’s itinerary. I recommend picking up at least a couple of interactive wands to share. Experiencing the magic of casting spells in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is a huge part of the Wizarding World atmosphere.

Since the Olivander’s Wand experience does not have Express Pass, this is a good thing to do first thing in the morning during Universal’s Early Admission. There is also no Express queue for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure so this is another attraction best tackled first-thing during early admission.

If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, which runs between the two parks, you’ll need a park-to-park ticket. Learn all about Universal Orlando’s tickets here.

Be sure to listen to the podcast audio from this episode, and also my audio tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for lots more advice about a first visit to this magical land.

Universal Orlando first-timer FAQ’s

Here are some of Ric’s questions, that are commonly asked by Universal Orlando first-timers.

Is early admission worth it?

Yes, early admission is a great way to beat the crowds at Universal Orlando. I advise taking advantage of this extra hour every morning. Guests at any of the Universal Orlando on-site hotels receive early admission throughout their stay.

Here’s a quick explanation of why staying on-site at Universal Orlando can make your day so much easier, from my Go Informed theme park tips newsletter.

What should we do first during early admission?

Go Informed Podcast episodes 23 and 26 are all about how to make the most of early admission at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. For advice specifically for early entry to Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure, check out episode 46.

Should we go to the parks on arrival day?

Especially for guests staying at one of Universal’s Premier resorts, it’s easy to visit the theme parks for just a few hours at the end of the day. In fact, on Sundays through Thursdays, after 4:00pm offers some of the lowest crowd levels of the day.

Can you dine in CityWalk & easily go back to the parks?

Yes, CityWalk is literally right outside the entrances to the two Universal Orlando theme parks. Click here to view maps and get more Universal Orlando walking distances.

Are the interactive wands worth it?

Oh yes, the interactive wands are pretty amazing. You get to do your own magic and add to the special atmosphere in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village. Plan to visit Olivander’s and buy at least one for your group.

What else is there to do besides Harry Potter?

The Universal Orlando theme parks include lands dedicated to Marvel, Jurassic Park, the Simpsons, Dr. Seuss, and many of your favorite movies and TV shows. There is definitely something for everyone.

Want to get the lay of the land? Check out my audio tours of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. They are Go Informed Podcast episodes three and four.

Should we worry about motion sickness on the Universal rides?

Universal is known for it’s wide use of screens in many attractions. Especially on 4-D movie attractions like Minion Mayhem and Race Through New York, a lot of guests have issues with motion sickness.

If you have a sensitive member in your group, you can use Universal’s rider swap system to give the ride a test-run. Here’s how to do it.

Do we lose much experience by using the Express Pass queue?

Because you are skipping the regular line, riders using Express Pass may miss some of the pre-show queue experience. The regular queues for Skull Island: Reign of Kong and the Mummy coaster probably have the most detail you will miss. However, you will also be missing many minutes of waiting in line.

For the Harry Potter attractions inside Gringotts Bank and Hogwarts Castle, the Express Pass line goes through all the same detailed rooms as the normal line. The only thing you’ll miss here is the long, snaking queues outside the buildings.

What should we know about water rides?

Water rides at Universal Orlando are no joke. Be ready to get really wet. The worst (or best, depending on how you look at it) are Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. Not only are both of these attractions on/in water, there are water cannons to the side that other guests can use to drench riders passing by.

The Jurassic Park River Adventure can also be very wet. Although it looks like a Jungle Cruise type boat ride, the ending is more like Splash Mountain on steroids. Especially if you sit up front, be ready for wet shoes and probably much more.

Quick tips for a Universal Orlando first-timer

• When you first arrive at Universal Orlando, buy a lanyard for everyone in your group. This is a great way to keep your park ticket and Express Pass safe and accessible.
• For the attractions with a high degree of motion, especially the roller coasters, Universal requires all loose items to be stored in a locker. Free lockers are provided near the entrance to these attractions and anything you can’t fit in your pockets must be stashed away in a locker.
• The following attractions require EVERYTHING to be in a locker, not just in your pockets. You will pass through a metal detector to be sure there is nothing on your person.
  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster
  • Jurassic World Velocicoaster
• There is a secret song list for the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Here’s how to hack it.
• Go Informed Podcast episode 7 is all about what to expect on your first day in the Universal Orlando parks.

Universal Orlando is so big that there are a bunch of cool things you could easily overlook. Check out this issue of the Go Informed newsletter to find out about 9 of my favorite Universal Orlando hidden gems. And don’t forget to subscribe!

Ric’s top Universal Orlando first-timer advice

I talked to Ric after his trip and these are the top tips he has for other first-time Universal Orlando visitors.

Use the hotel water taxi in the morning

The security line might look long for the early water taxi but it moves much faster than at the main entrance to CityWalk. Once you’re on the boat, you don’t have to go through any more security to get into the parks.

Express Pass is awesome

Because they had unlimited Express Passes, Ric’s family could tour the parks however they wished. This freedom was a huge perk, especially with a group of five.

Stay in an Express Pass hotel

By staying in the Royal Pacific Resort, Ric’s entire family got free Unlimited Express Passes for their entire vacation. Even accounting for the higher room rate, Ric figures he saved about $2000 over choosing a non-Express hotel and purchasing the passes separately.

Get a park-to-park ticket

Universal’s park-to-park ticket allows you to go between both parks on the same day. Ric’s family loved this option.”We could go back and forth without a second thought”.

Check out Ric’s Monorail Tales Podcast

Big thanks to Ric for sharing his trip plans with us! Be sure to check out the Monorail Tales Podcast, which Ric hosts with a delightful gang of Disney enthusiasts. You can even catch the episode featuring me!

Find the show on your favorite podcast app or at MonorailTales.com.

Follow Ric on Instagram and Facebook

Here’s Ric’s social media links:

• Monorail Tales Facebook page
• Monorail Tales Facebook group
• On Instagram: @MonorailTales and @MagicIntheHills

60-second quick guide to Universal Orlando

More tips for your first trip to Universal Orlando

Here on GoInformed.net and on the Go Informed Podcast, you’ll find lots of tips to help you have a fantastic first trip to Universal Orlando. Check out these top posts:

• 33 things to know before you visit Universal Orlando
• How Universal Orlando compares to Universal Hollywood
• Universal Orlando walking distances, maps, and training tips
• How to add Universal Orlando to your Disney World vacation
• Complete guide to the Universal Orlando hotels

Bonus tips straight to your inbox

Join the Go Informed mailing list for twice-monthly topical tips delivered straight to you. Click here to sign up.

The post Universal Orlando First-Timer Advice for a Disney World Wizard appeared first on Go Informed.

As one of the biggest movie franchises in the world, Marvel is a natural for theme park attractions. In the USA, guests can experience Marvel attractions and meet characters in both Universal and Disney theme parks. Here’s where you can find Marvel and what to expect at each location.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 68. Click below to listen, or find the show on your favorite podcast player.

In the USA, Marvel attractions can be found at Universal Orlando, Disney World, and Disneyland

Good news for Marvel fans – whether you visit Disneyland, Disney World, or Universal Orlando you can rub shoulders with your favorite superheroes. Yes, Disney owns the blockbuster franchise today, but due to a pre-existing contract with Universal Orlando, there is an entire Marvel land located in the Islands of Adventure theme park.

Technically, Universal is supposed to have the theme park rights to Marvel in any park east of the Mississippi. However, Disney has found a loophole and is introducing selected characters at their Epcot park. So now Orlando visitors can experience unique Marvel attractions at both Universal and Disney.

On the west coast, Disney has opened a Marvel-themed land at Disneyland’s California Adventure. Dubbed the Avengers’ Campus, this land is an immersive visit into the MCU.

Why are all the parks working hard to bring Marvel to life? In our podcast chat, Joey shared some stats that show Marvel is by-far the highest grossing movie franchise of all-time.

Marvel at Universal Orlando

Marvel Superhero Island is Universal Orlando’s Marvel-themed land. It’s located in the Islands of Adventure theme park and feels like a journey into a Marvel comic book. Characters interact with visitors like action-figures come to life, rather than lookalikes from the movies. There are three major attractions in Marvel Superhero Island.

Marvel Attractions at Universal Orlando

• Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall

Listen to my audio tour of the Islands of Adventure theme park here.

Marvel at Disney World

Thanks to a complicated loophole, Disney is also able to offer Marvel attractions in Orlando. The big Marvel-themed ride at Disney World is Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This highly-themed indoor roller coaster opened in 2022 and is by far the most popular attraction in the park.

Want an at-a-glance look at Disney World? Check out my 75-second quick guide right here.

Marvel at Disneyland

Avengers Campus

Located in California Adventure, Avengers’ Campus is Disneyland’s Marvel complex. Immersive theming includes a Headquarters building topped by a full-size Quinjet, an Ancient Sanctum featuring encounters with Doctor Strange, and two major attractions. Movie lookalikes interact with guests and perform stunts throughout the day.

Even the dining options are fully themed. At Pym’s Test Kitchen, guests can enjoy huge chicken sandwiches and giant pretzels.

Marvel Attractions at Disneyland

There are two major attractions at California Adventure’s Avengers Campus:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
• Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Disneyland Avengers Campus Quick Guide

Go Informed Podcast episode 75 is all about Avengers Campus. Click here to read the related show notes.

More theme park tips from Go Informed

Here on GoInformed.net you’ll find lots of info to help you have a great vacation in the Disney and Universal parks. Be sure to check out these posts:

• Universal Orlando vs Universal Hollywood
• 33 Things to know before you visit Universal Orlando
• 55 Things to know before you visit Disney World
• Park maps, walking distances, and how to train for your theme park vacation
• How to add Universal to your Disney World vacation

Bonus tips delivered straight to your inbox

Be sure to join the mailing list so you’ll get my twice-monthly bonus tipsheet, delivered straight to you. Click here to sign up for these exclusive tips, and to read what you’ve missed so far.

More episodes with The Disney Hack

• Christmastime at Disneyland trip report
• Comparing Disneyland and Disney World
• How to hack TripAdvisor One-Star Reviews

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Marvel Attractions in the Disney and Universal Parks appeared first on Go Informed.

Especially at Walt Disney World, walking distances between attractions can be vast. It’s important to be prepared to walk A LOT when visiting these parks. Knowing what to expect is a good first step to preparing for what will ultimately be a marathon of walking.

Want to find out about walking distances at Disneyland? Check out this post.

Audio tutorial

Go Informed Podcast episode 77 is a discussion of how to train for your Disney vacation. Find it on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

How Many Miles Will You Realistically Walk at Disney World?

The distances listed below are just a sampling of how far apart things are in the Disney World parks. To set realistic expectations, keep in mind that you will inevitably do a lot of back-tracking. Plus you need to add in the mileage just getting to the park gate. For example, the walk from the Magic Kingdom bus stop just to the front gate is about a quarter-mile!

Underestimating distances is one of my top ten theme park touring mistakes. Get the list of what NOT to do here.

If walking these distances will be difficult for you, consider renting a wheelchair or scooter to help you get around. Be thoughtful about your abilities (and the endurance of your traveling companions too) so you can set realistic expectations and truly enjoy your Disney World vacation.

75-second Disney World Quick Guide

Train for Your Trip

One of the best things you can do to prepare for your Orlando theme park vacation is to start walking now. Luckily this is something we can all do just by walking out our own front door. Get your entire family in practice so they’ll be ready to handle all those miles.

Neighborhood Walk Bingo – Disney World Edition

Start thinking about your walking distances in terms of Disney destinations. For example, a half-mile walk in your neighborhood is the same as a walk from Epcot’s front gate to the Frozen ride.

I’ve created a fun Bingo card to help you turn your neighborhood walk into a virtual walk through the parks. Just track your miles then check off the corresponding distances on the card. On a typical walk you might pass Space Mountain, Mount Everest, and Big Thunder too!

You can get a free printable PDF of the Orlando theme park neighborhood walk bingo card right here.

Learn More About the Parks While You Walk

What’s a great thing to do on a walk? Listen to a podcast of course!

You can hear me describe all of the Orlando theme parks while you walk. The Go Informed Podcast archives include audio tours of all the Disney World and Universal Orlando parks, plus in-depth explorations of lands like Galaxy’s Edge and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Just search for Go Informed: Build a Better Vacation on your favorite podcast app. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button!

I also highly recommend that everyone planning for a Disney World vacation get a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This book has tons of great info and will help you with everything from choosing your hotel to planning your park days. Here’s a link on Amazon.

Get the Right Gear

Another thing I recommend is to be sure you have the right gear for all this walking. That means good walking or running shoes, comfortable socks, and a way to track your distance. There are lots of free apps for your phone to track distance, or you can use a fitness tracker.

Be sure to try out your new shoes and socks BEFORE you go on your trip. It’s important to get some miles on them to ensure everything is comfortable and really working for you while you still have the chance to make adjustments.

And, just in case, pack a few blister bandages in your park bag.

Are you going to Orlando in the summer heat? Be sure to check out my summer gear guide here.

Magic Kingdom Walking Distances

Believe it or not, Magic Kingdom is one of the smaller parks at Disney World. (If you need some context about the overall scale of Disney World check out this infographic). Here are some of the places you will likely walk on your day at Magic Kingdom.

• Magic Kingdom front gate to Cinderella Castle: 0.2 miles
• Magic Kingdom front gate to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: 0.4 miles
• Magic Kingdom front gate to Space Mountain: 0.4 miles
• Space Mountain to Big Thunder Railroad: 0.4 miles
• Loop around Magic Kingdom park: 1.6 miles
• Walk from the Magic Kingdom bus stop to the front gate: 0.2 miles
• Walk from the Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom front gate: 0.6 miles

Wondering how the distances at Disney World compare to Disneyland? Here’s my post with the Disneyland walking distances.

Epcot Walking Distances

At Epcot you can expect to cover a lot of ground on your own two feet. While there is boat transportation in the World Showcase end of the park, you’ll be walking the rest of the way.

Epcot has a unique design that gives it two park entrances. This expands the options for how to get around and offers a few shortcuts. Here are some of the walking distances at Epcot.

• Epcot front gate to Test Track: 0.3 miles
• Epcot front gate to Frozen (Norway): 0.5 miles
• Epcot front gate to Remy’s Adventure (France): 0.6 miles
• Epcot loop from front gate around World Showcase, back to front gate: 1.7 miles
• Test Track to Soarin’: 0.7 miles
• Epcot loop around World Showcase: 1.0 miles
• Epcot International Gateway entrance to Remy’s Adventure (France): 0.2 miles
• Epcot International Gateway entrance to Test Track: 0.5 miles
• Epcot International Gateway entrance to front gate: 0.7 miles

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Walking Distances

Hollywood Studios has a smaller footprint than the other parks, but you might find yourself back-tracking more often. So take these distances and double them to account for your round-trip to the attractions.

• Hollywood Studios front gate to Runaway Railway: 0.2 miles
• Hollywood Studios front gate to Slinky Dog Dash Coaster: 0.3 miles
• Hollywood Studios front gate to Millennium Falcon: 0.4 miles
• Hollywood Studios front gate to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: 0.2 miles
• Walk around most of Hollywood Studios: 1.2 miles
• Fantasmic theater seating to Skyliner gondola: 0.5 miles

Getting your feet, and your family, in condition for your trip is one of 8 tasks on my pre-trip checklist. Click here to find out what else to do before you go.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Walking Distances

Animal Kingdom is the largest of the Disney World parks, but a lot of the space is animal habitat. Nonetheless, you’ll find attractions spread out over a lot of area here. Be prepared to take breaks and give yourself lots of time to explore. Here are some of the walking distances at Animal Kingdom.

• Animal Kingdom front gate to Flight of Passage: 0.3 miles
• Animal Kingdom front gate to Kilimanjaro Safaris: 0.3 miles
• Animal Kingdom front gate to Expedition Everest: 0.4 miles
• Loop around most of Animal Kingdom: 1.9 miles

Walking Between the Disney World Parks

Disney World covers an area approximately the same size as San Francisco so you will not be walking between the parks, with the exception of a path between Hollywood Studios and Epcot. The walking distance from Epcot’s International Gateway to the Hollywood Studios entrance is about 1.1 miles.

Just for reference, here are some driving distances between the Disney World parks. Keep in mind that this is on major roads and freeways.

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom driving distance: 5.5 miles
• Magic Kingdom to Epcot driving distance: 4.0 miles
• Epcot to Hollywood Studios driving distance: 4.3 miles
• Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom driving distance: 3.0 miles

Going from Disney World to Universal Orlando? Driving distance from Epcot to Universal is about 14 miles.

Universal Orlando Walking Distances

I personally think no Orlando vacation is complete without some time spent at Universal Orlando – especially for Harry Potter fans. Be sure to check out my 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando post for a ton of tips to help you go like a pro.

Universal Orlando has two theme parks right next to each other, both containing portions of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here are some walking distances at Universal Orlando.

• Universal Islands of Adventure front gate to Hogwarts Castle: 0.5 miles
• Universal Islands of Adventure full loop: 1.2 miles
• Universal Islands of Adventure front gate to Universal Studios Florida front gate: 0.2 miles
• Universal Studios Florida front gate to Gringotts Bank: 0.5 miles
• Universal Studios Florida loop: 1.1 miles
• Walking from Gringotts Bank in Universal Studios Florida to Hogwarts Castle in Islands of Adventure: 1.2 miles (take the Hogwarts Express instead!)
• Universal Orlando parking garage to Universal Studios front gate: 0.8 miles
• Walking distance from the Universal Orlando Express Pass hotels:
  • Hard Rock Hotel to Universal Studios Florida gate: 0.4 miles
  • Portofino Bay Hotel to Universal Studios Florida gate: 0.8 miles
  • Royal Pacific Hotel to Islands of Adventure gate: 0.5 miles

Will this be your first visit to Universal Orlando? Be sure to check out this post and podcast episode loaded with Universal Orlando first-timer advice.

Free Printable Maps and Bingo Card

All of the maps you see here in the post, and the walk-in-the-parks bingo card are available for you to download and print!

• Click here to get the Orlando theme park walking distance maps
• Click here to get the Orlando theme park neighborhood walking bingo card.

Want a Disneyland themed walking bingo card too? You’ll find it here in my Disneyland walking distances post.

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

• 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World
• 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando
• Adding a Visit to Universal Orlando to Your Disney World Trip
• Disney World complete hotel guide
• Universal Orlando complete hotel guide

Get a 60-second jump-start on your vacation planning with my theme park quick start guides. Click here to see them all!

Bonus tips exclusively in your inbox

Want to save money, avoid hassles, and have more fun on your theme park vacation? Sign up now to get two bonus mini-posts every month, exclusive to the Go Informed mailing list!

This exclusive content is only available in your inbox and it’s totally free. Click here to join now.

What’s it like to walk at Disneyland Paris? Click here to find out!

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Disney World Walking Distances appeared first on Go Informed.

On March 12, 2020, Disney and Universal announced the indefinite closure of all US theme parks due to coronavirus precautions. So what does this mean if you have a trip coming up, or are looking to visit the parks this year? Here are my tips to help you cope while the Universal and Disney parks are closed.

Hey guys, this post was written in April 2020. While I think there’s still a lot of useful info here, you should also check out these posts: 10 Things To Know About Universal Orlando During COVID-19 and Tips for Disney World During COVID-19.

Listen on The Disney Hack Podcast

You can hear my discussion about the coronavirus Disney park closures on The Disney Hack Podcast episode 31. Click the Play button to listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic. Or search for The Disney Hack podcast on your favorite podcast player.

What to Do if you have a Universal or Disney Trip Already Booked

Lenient Cancellation Policies

Disney and Universal are being very lenient with their cancellation policies. Even if you have a package booked for dates into June you can most likely cancel with absolutely no penalty.

Airlines are also waiving most or all change/cancel fees and penalties. If you booked your air on your own outside of a package, check your airline’s website for details.

Your Travel Agent is On Top of This

If you are fortunate to have booked through a travel agent (not a call center), your agent should be totally on top of this. They can make all the phone calls for you to take care of whatever changes you need to make. And give them a big pat on the back – they have probably been spending the past several weeks on-hold dealing with all manner of travel challenges.

Be patient if you don’t hear back from your agent immediately. There are so many trips affected that a certain amount of triage is going on. Those who have trips in progress or happening in the next few weeks will get first priority.

What if Your Trip is Later This Summer?

If your trip is a few months out, both Disney and Universal are allowing guests to delay making final payment, and are waiving most cancellation penalties. As things continue to play out, these policies will likely be fluid. Watch the Disney and Universal websites for the most up-to-date info.

Your Disney Vacation Got Cancelled – Now What?

Consider Modifying Your Original Plans

Is there a festival or seasonal party you really would like to see? Maybe you want to choose a totally different time of year than you had originally planned.

Do you think you want to try a different hotel? Stay a different number of days? Maybe combine Disney and Universal?

Maybe your original vacation was at an off-site resort. Were you regretting this decision? Staying on-site at Disney and Universal have some pretty great perks. This is your chance to build the trip based on all your new knowledge.

Use Your Newly-Acquired Park Knowledge

Maybe you were going to Disneyland but now that you think about it, Disney World really looks great. Your plans are already changing – there’s nothing to stop you from planning the replacement trip for a completely different destination.

When you book your new trip, you’ll get another chance to land those FastPasses and dining reservations. You’re a pro now right? This second time around will be easier than the first.

Ask for Help and Safeguard Your Trip

Do you wish you’d had help when everything went sideways? Find yourself a good travel agent. It won’t cost you anything extra to book your next trip, and a good agent may even be able to save you money. Plus they have your back when you need help. Ask around for a referral.

Seriously consider purchasing a cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance policy when you book your new trip. As we’ve seen, you never know when something might pop up to prevent you from traveling. Travel insurance can give you peace of mind knowing you’ll be protected if you have to cancel.

What To Do While the Parks are Closed

Take a virtual trip to the parks. You’ll find audio tours of all the Universal Orlando and Disney World parks in the Go Informed podcast archives. Just search for the show on your favorite podcast app and scroll back through the episodes.

Watch the movies! The Disney and Universal theme parks are loaded with references to classic movies. Spring for a Disney+ subscription and you can watch loads of Disney movies, Mickey Mouse cartoons, and even a great documentary series about how the parks were built. And here’s my post all about the movies that inspired the rides at Universal Orlando.

Start planning that do-over trip, even if you don’t have the dates in mind. Even just a rough plan will give you something to look forward to as we wait for things to get back to normal.

Make sure you’re following Go Informed on social (@goinformednet pretty much everywhere) and subscribed to my newsletter for updates as they happen.

Use this time to get more informed about what to expect on your vacation. Order some guide books, listen to theme park podcasts, and check out my tips here on GoInformed.net:

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip

The Go Informed Podcast

Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.

Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

Top Guide Books

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland

The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando

This post contains affiliate links.

The post COVID Closed the Universal and Disney Parks – Now What?? appeared first on Go Informed.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a new roller coaster at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. On this episode of the Go Informed Podcast you’ll find out why this thrilling addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade Village, is a must-see for your next Orlando vacation. Plus get my tips to help you beat the crowds and avoid a huge wait for Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike coaster.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 46. Click the Play button to listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Why Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is One of the Best Roller Coasters in the World

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened in the summer of 2019. It’s located in the Hogsmeade Village part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. This coaster took the place of the old Dragon Challenge coasters that I mentioned on my audio tour of the Wizarding World on episode 5.  The ride takes you on a thrilling trip through the Forbidden Forest on Hagrid’s flying magical motorbike.

Theming on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

A few things set this coaster apart from others at Universal Orlando and around the world. First is the theming. Like the rest of the rides at the Wizarding World, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is highly themed. You will pass a life-size animatronic Hagrid as well as some pretty impressive magical creatures. And the entire ride takes place in a real forest.

Riders sit on Hagrid’s motorbike or in the side car. Both are unique experiences and I recommend trying both.

Walking through the outdoor queue you’ll get a view of the coaster flying through the forest. You’ll also have a great photo op of Hogwarts castle, and an up-close look at Hagrid’s hut. (Do be aware that it’s going to be HOT in that outdoor queue if you visit in the summer. Check out episode 28 for my top tips about coping with the hot weather).

Hagrid’s Coaster Delivers the Thrills

As far as the thrill-level goes, Universal has built some pretty unique features into Hagrid’s coaster. It’s the longest roller coaster in Florida, and has seven different high-speed launches. If you like coasters with quick launches, you’re going to love this. A big reason for the launches relates to the theming – the coaster slows down when there’s something to see, then quickly boosts forward again. So you really get the Harry Potter theming along with roller coaster thrills.

And not all of the launches are in the forward direction either. Hagrid’s Motorbike is so magical that it actually goes backwards, at a very high speed, for quite a distance. For fans of Disney’s Expedition Everest – you will love this. I think the backwards segment on Hagrid’s coaster is even longer than on Expedition Everest, and it’s just plain fun.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there is also a drop sequence on this coaster. Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is one of the only roller coasters in the world that has a track drop like this. The engineering is pretty amazing and the drop is quite substantial.

Remember that Universal has a rider swap system, so if someone in your group is unsure about riding this attraction, use rider swap and test it out. This post is all about how to use rider swap at Universal.

Beware Frequent Breakdowns

Because Hagrid’s coaster has a very complex ride system, Universal has been having trouble keeping it running in these first few months. Be aware that on some days it will just not be operational, and that on most days there will be times when it closes down unexpectedly. For these reasons, I recommend having a good touring plan to try to get on Hagrid’s coaster as early as possible.

Tips for Riding Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Without the Wait

Take a super popular ride, add in a propensity for breakdowns, and you’ve got a recipe for a really long wait. That’s what you can expect at Hagrid’s coaster. Wait times are routinely two hours – or longer! – and that’s a long time to stand in line. Luckily, I’ve got some tips to help you ride multiple times without waiting and maybe even walk right on.

No Express Pass Entrance at Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

There is currently no Universal Express Pass queue at Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. You may know that Express Pass is one of my top tips for beating the crowds at Universal Orlando.  But unfortunately for now, Express Pass won’t help you here.

If you have an Express Pass it will help you skip the lines at pretty much every other attraction in the Wizarding World, so make sure to prioritize Hagrid’s coaster for early morning. This will likely be the longest line you wait in all day.

Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure Does Have a Single Rider Line

Single rider is usually available at Hagrid’s coaster. On the day I visited, singles had to wait in the standby line until it reached the building, then break off through a singles entrance. I don’t know if this is how it’s always done. When I rode single, my wait before reaching the single rider entrance was about 20 minutes, then only about 2 minutes once I entered the actual singles line. If you’re thinking about riding single, ask the attendant at the beginning of the ride queue whether it’s available, and worth it.

Find out all about using single rider to hack your way to the front of a long line here.

Getting to the Park Early is Your Best Bet to Avoid Long Waits at Hagrid’s Coaster

It’s my number one tip in my 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando, and it is doubly important for Hagrid’s coaster – get to the park early. If you get there before the crowds you can ride multiple times in the first hour of park operation. On the day I visited, I was able to ride three times in the first hour. That’s about three times more than I could ride during any other hour of the same day.

Tips for Rope-Dropping Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

1. Arrive at Islands of Adventure at least 45 minutes before official park opening time
2. Don’t carry anything you can’t zip into your pockets. If you have a bag, hat, or any other loose item, you’ll have to stop and put it in a locker before you get into the Hagrid’s coaster queue. I carried a folded drawstring backpack in my pocket to use later but did not carry it as a backpack when I entered the park.
3. Don’t walk straight into Hogsmeade Village, there’s a special route for Hagrid’s coaster. Watch for signs and park employees directing you after you pass Mythos Restaurant.
4. Be ready when you load onto the ride. Decide before you get there whether you want to ride on the motorbike or the sidecar.
5. Ride single after the first or second time through.

If Hagrid’s coaster is not running when you enter the park, follow my tips for Islands of Adventure early admission.

Do Your Homework Before You Go

Make sure you know what to expect and where to go before you get to the park. I highly recommend The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando and the Touring Plans Lines app to help you get ready.

These Go Informed posts and podcast episodes will help you dive deeper into the topics discussed on today’s episode:

How to Rope Drop – Go Informed Podcast Episode 044

Getting Ready for Your Universal Orlando Trip – Go Informed Podcast Episode 006

Tips for Your First Day in the Universal Orlando Parks – Go Informed Podcast Episode 007

Master Your Theme Park Morning – Go Informed Podcast Episode 019

Join the Go Informed Mailing List

Don’t forget to sign up for the email newsletter here.

Thanks for Supporting the Show!

To support the show and get bonus episodes too, visit Patreon.com/GoInformed

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes: Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip

The Go Informed Podcast

Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.

Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando – Go Informed Podcast Episode 046 appeared first on Go Informed.

On our recent visit to Disney’s new Star Wars Land we discovered a ton of things to love. And guess what? IT WASN’T CROWDED! This episode and post are all about what to expect when you visit Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland or Disney World, and why you should go see it now.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 45. Click the Play button to listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire Outpost Tips and Information

The official name for Disney’s Star Wars Land is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Black Spire Outpost. That’s quite a mouthful. The reason it has this name is that the place you are visiting is supposed to be a distant outpost on the edge of the galaxy. Both the First Order and the rebels have homes here in the village of Black Spire Outpost.

Black Spire Outpost is one of the largest lands in any Disney park. Be sure to allow lots of time to wander around and check out the nooks and crannies. In many ways, this land reminded me of the World Showcase at Epcot. There is a sense of authenticity and a feeling that you could really live in this village.

Don’t Leave Home Without the Play Disney Parks App

There are a ton of interactive elements throughout this land, even on the rides, and they all work via the Play Disney Parks app. Make sure you download the app before you get there, and be sure your phone has a full charge – we found the app drained our batteries like crazy. You may even want to bring along an external power source for your phone.

Here’s some video of Luna using the Play Disney Parks app to translate what’s on the coaster we got in the Cantina:

My Personal Highlight: The Cantina

The Cantina was my highlight in Galaxy’s Edge. It really does feel like you’ve stepped into that first Star Wars movie. Be sure to find out how to make a reservation so you get the chance to see it.

Here’s some video inside the Cantina, be sure to turn the sound on:

Check with Disney for Current Reservation Information

Reservations are strongly recommended for some of the attractions in Galaxy’s Edge – especially the Cantina and the Lightsaber Workshop. The best source for current information about how and when to get these reservations is Disney.

Click here for the official Disneyland Galaxy’s Edge website.

Click here for the official Disney World Galaxy’s Edge website.

Shopping in Galaxy’s Edge is an Attraction too

In Galaxy’s Edge you won’t find a single thing with Mickey Mouse, or even the Star Wars logo. Much like in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this is meant to be an authentic experience that takes you into the story.

There are some very unique experiences inside the shops here at Black Spire Outpost. You can build your own droid or even a very life-like light saber. For serious Star Wars fans, these opportunities might outshine anything else in the land. If you want to hear more about this, Lou Mongello’s description about building a light saber pretty much says it all.

Be sure to double-check with Disney before you go to find out if you need a reservation for these activities.

Here’s what it looks like inside the Droid Depot:

The Rebel End of Town

The rebel end of Black Spire Outpost will soon be home to the amazing Rise of the Resistance ride. But don’t miss it now. This is where you’re likely to encounter Rey, and you’ll see lots of cool rebel hardware like landspeeders and an X-wing fighter.

This end of the land will also be home to a lush forest, once the landscape truly takes shape.

The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Ride

The Millennium Falcon ride literally puts you in the cockpit of the most iconic movie spacecraft of all time. For this reason alone I think everyone should ride it.

And Disney has given us lots of other fun reasons to ride and re-ride Smugglers Run, beginning with the wonderful interactive queue.

Once you get through the queue, you’ll be escorted into the Falcon itself. You’ll wait with just a handful of other guests and explore the deck where Chewbacca and the gang hang out. Yes, you can sit at the table with that Star Wars chessboard!

Entering the cockpit is pretty surreal. It’s like you’ve taken the place of Han, Chewy, Rey, or Leia. You’ll be randomly assigned a seat.

Up front are the pilots. If you sit in the right hand seat you get to put the Falcon into hyperdrive!!

Behind the pilots are the gunners and engineers. Gunners and engineers basically hit buttons on the walls, pilots have the sensation of flying the craft.

The ride itself is like a really immersive video game combined with the Star Tours ride. We thought it was a lot of fun and not too intense. If you ride more than once you’ll have the chance to try different positions – cast members assign the seats randomly but it’s OK to switch around.

A good Millennium Falcon touring tip is to use the singles line. This ride takes six guests at a time which inevitably leaves frequent space for a single rider. We had a single on one of our rides who said she literally walked on with no wait.

Rise of the Resistance

I was there for opening day of Rise of the Resistance at Disney World. Listen to episode 47 for a full report about the attraction, and the excitement of opening day.

Our Encounter with the Stormtroopers

Go Now and Beat the Crowds

I was totally wrong on episode 43 when I said you should wait to see Star Wars Land. So far the crowds have been totally manageable. Book your trip now and go see this incredible new addition at Disneyland and Disney World.

Join the Go Informed Mailing List

Don’t forget to sign up for the email newsletter here.

Thanks for Supporting the Show!

To support the show and get bonus episodes too, visit Patreon.com/GoInformed

Leave a Rating or Review on Itunes: Here’s a link to the Go Informed podcast on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and for your review!

Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip

The Go Informed Podcast

Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.

Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

Join me on social media

Facebook.com/goinformednet

Instagram.com/goinformednet

Pinterest.com/goinformednet

This post contains affiliate links.

The post All About Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney – Go Informed Podcast Episode 045 appeared first on Go Informed.